8 fatalities

Night Supply Mission Aircraft Shot Down by Enemy Fire Near Phan Rang (43-49859)

Phan Rang, VietnamFlight

On February 15, 1968, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration 43-49859) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Phan Rang, Vietnam in flight. 8 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Shot down by enemy fire. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft conducting a night supply mission was hit by enemy fire and crashed in flames 8 km south of Phan Rang Airbase, killing all eight crew members.

Incident

During a night supply mission, an aircraft was struck by enemy fire. It subsequently crashed in flames approximately 8 kilometers south of Phan Rang Airbase. All eight crew members aboard were killed in the incident.

Crew

The deceased crew members were identified as:

  • Lt Col Karl Merritt Waldron
  • Cpt Edward Beeding Quill
  • Cpt Thomas Joseph Margle
  • S/Sgt Warren Mitchell Dixon
  • S/Sgt Robert Kiyoshi Kawamura
  • S/Sgt Roger Gail Lee
  • Sgt James Harvey Bennett
  • Sgt Brent Tosh

Cause

According to official findings, the probable cause of the crash was that the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire.